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Waterstones in Oxford (Image: Andy Ffrench)
Waterstones in Oxford (Image: Andy Ffrench)
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Waterstones staff are serving customers for the last time today from the store where the chain has traded for more than 25 years.
The bookshop chain has been based at Grade II-listed William Baker House on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street since 1998.
It announced in March that it is to close and move later this year to a new premises in Queen Street, in a unit previously occupied by the Top Man clothing chain.
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It's the end of an era for bookselling at the five-storey building as Dillon's ran a bookshop there from 1987 until Waterstones took over.
A spokesman for Waterstones said earlier that all its city booksellers would be redeployed at the new store in Queen Street.
(Image: Andy Ffrench) The spokesman could not provide any details about which business would be replacing Waterstones, adding: "We have no insight regarding potential agreements between the landlord and future tenants."
Earlier this year, William Baker House was covered in scaffolding for general maintenance repairs. Some of the Waterstones signage has now been removed.
A spokesman for Waterstones said the chain hoped the relocation to Queen Street would take place this summer.
The chain said in an earlier statement: "We are delighted to announce the upcoming opening of an exciting and large new Waterstones shop in the heart of the city on Oxford’s Queen Street, the biggest new Waterstones shop to open for some years.
(Image: Andy Ffrench) "Occupying the former Topshop space, in the busy shopping district near Marks & Spencer, the new shop will be situated across the basement and ground floor of the building.
"The generous, bright and easy to navigate space will allow for increased space and a larger range of books and gifts for customers to browse.
"The shop will also have a café, perfect for a break whilst choosing the next perfect read."
Staff at Waterstones said on Tuesday they did not yet know the date for the new store opening, or which retailer would occupy William Baker House following the chain's departure.
Waterstones also runs stores in Witney, Didcot, Banbury and Aylesbury.
